The processing and monitoring of immigration applications in Luxembourg are “inconsistent” and require better oversight, according to an external audit of the government department responsible presented by Home Affairs Minister Léon Gloden on Wednesday.
The administrative audit of the Foreigners Department of the Directorate General for Immigration was launched followed revelations about an immigration fraud scandal which first emerged in July.
In July, Luxembourg’s public prosecutor’s office announced an investigation into a series of allegations including corruption, influence-peddling, money laundering, forgery of documents, misuse of documents, subsidy fraud and the smuggling of migrants.
There have been reports of 27 suspects and more than 200 cases to date, while several staff have been suspended from the immigration directorate. In August, three men were given suspended prison sentences after striking a plea bargain with the prosecutor’s office. They admitted to having obtained residence permits through fictitious employment certificates and falsified diplomas.
“Key findings [from the audit] include issues with the traceability of case processing, overly broad access rights, an insufficient separation of certain duties, and a lack of uniformity in the application of case-handling practices and controls,” the home affairs ministry said in a press release.
“The audit also highlights the need for better oversight mechanisms at all levels,” the statement added.
Steps will now be taken to address the recommendations contained in the audit, Gloden said in Wednesday’s statement, including strengthening the detection, monitoring and handling of immigration applications that have anomalies and reviewing access rights to files and strengthening independent checks at critical stages of the immigration application process.
“Corrective measures will be implemented to bolster the reliability of our procedures,” said Gloden. “It is essential that citizens have confidence in the rigorous functioning of our institutions.”
Improving the traceability of files and analysing staffing needs “to ensure the department functions reliably and sustainably” will also be addressed, the ministry said.